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Think Least of Death
Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die
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See moreFrom Pulitzer Prize-finalist Steven Nadler, an engaging guide to what Spinoza can teach us about life's big questions.
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Description
From Pulitzer Prize-finalist Steven Nadler, an engaging guide to what Spinoza can teach us about life's big questions.
In 1656, after being excommunicated from Amsterdam's Portuguese-Jewish community for 'abominable heresies' and 'monstrous deeds,' the young Baruch Spinoza abandoned his family's import business to dedicate his life to philosophy. He quickly became notorious across Europe for his views on God, the Bible, and miracles, as well as for his uncompromising defence of free thought. Yet the radicalism of Spinoza's views has long obscured that his primary reason for turning to philosophy was to answer one of humanity's most urgent questions: How can we lead a good life and enjoy happiness in a world without a providential God?
In Think Least of Death, Pulitzer Prize-finalist Steven Nadler connects Spinoza's ideas with his life and times to offer a compelling account of how the philosopher can provide a guide to living one's best life.
In the Ethics, Spinoza presents his vision of the ideal human being, the 'free person' who, motivated by reason, lives a life of joy devoted to what is most important—improving oneself and others. Untroubled by passions such as hate, greed, and envy, free people treat others with benevolence, justice, and charity. Focusing on the rewards of goodness, they enjoy the pleasures of this world, but in moderation. "The free person thinks least of all of death," Spinoza writes, "and his wisdom is a meditation not on death but on life."
"A helpful explication of [Spinoza's] ideas about ethics, the afterlife, and human nature." - Kirkus Reviews
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Steven Nadler's Think Least of Death provides an insightful exploration of Spinoza's philosophy, particularly focusing on the idea of the 'free person' as a rational being seeking power and virtue. Praised for its accessibility, the book serves as both an engaging introduction to Spinoza's complex ideas and a helpful guide to personal improvement. Reviews highlight its relevance and clarity, making it a recommended read for those interested in ethics and human nature.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780691183848
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 22 September 2020
Country: United States
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Illustration: 1 b/w illus.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 216.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 248
About the Author
Steven Nadler is Vilas Research Professor and the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of WisconsinMadison. His many books include Rembrandt's Jews, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Spinoza: A Life, and (with Lawrence Shapiro) When Bad Thinking Happens to Good People: How Philosophy Can Save Us from Ourselves (Princeton).
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